“Unacceptable mistake or deliberate decision”: US senator demands Pentagon report
Фото: Reuters
US Republican Senator Tom Tillis is calling for an investigation into the problems with the Starshield military satellite communications system that have limited the Ukrainian military’s ability to operate. He plans to ask the US Department of Defense’s inspector general to conduct an audit and report to Congress and the American public.
Tillis wrote about this on the social network X.
The senator suggested that the failure could have occurred locally in the Starshield systems used by the Pentagon, and not in the operation of Starlink or SpaceX.
“I do not expect Secretary of Defense Hegseth to demonstrate transparency, so we will be asking the Department of Defense Inspector General to launch an investigation and provide a report to Congress and the American people,” Tillis said.
He stressed that the situation poses risks to the safety of both Ukrainian civilians and American diplomatic and security personnel.
“At best, this was an unacceptable mistake or oversight, and at worst, a deliberate decision to clear the field for a Russian attack,” the senator added.
Tillis has not provided evidence that the restrictions could have been intentional, but insists on an investigation into the circumstances of the incident and a report on its results.
We remind you that the operation of the Starshield satellite communication system has been restored and is gradually improving. The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine continues to investigate the reasons for the restrictions that arose the day before and is checking the speed of the system at the front.
Recall that on the night of Wednesday, October 14, Starlink terminals began to lose communication while traveling at speeds over 160 km/h . This, according to preliminary data, disrupted a number of important missions. At the same time, conventional satellite communication terminals continue to operate.
Later, Serhiy Beskrestnov, known by the call sign “Flash”, stated that SpaceX had introduced speed restrictions on Starlink terminals during movement . Because of this, the Ukrainian Defense Forces were unable to complete a number of important missions.
At the same time, the 7th Airborne Assault Corps reported that problems arose even at lower speeds. In particular, in the Hulyaipil direction , communication with drones could be lost for 10–20 seconds while flying at a speed of 110–120 km/h.
As reported in the evening of the same day , Ukraine began to resume Starlink operations at speeds of up to 160 km/h . Thanks to this, the Ukrainian military will again be able to use strike drones and interceptor drones, the work of which was complicated by recent restrictions.
It should be noted that the administration of US President Donald Trump denies involvement in the restrictions on Starlink operations in Ukraine . Washington said it would contact SpaceX to find out the causes of the problems.
By the way, Starlink antennas at a secret facility near Sofia in Bulgaria may have been set on fire. According to preliminary data, the fire damaged 11 of the 17 SpaceX antennas, and two masked men may have been involved in the incident .
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